Niddui

NIDDUI¹. A Hebrew Word that signifies separated, excommunicated. This was (say they) the lesser sort of Excommunication in use among the Hebrews. He that had incurr’d this, was to withdraw himself from his Relations, at least at the Distance of four Cubits. It commonly continued a Month. If it was not taken off in a Month, it might be prolonged for sixty or even ninety Days. But if within this Term the excommunicated Person did not give Satisfaction, he fell into the Cherem, which was a second sort of Excommunication; and thence into the third Sort, call’d Schammatha, the most terrible of all. See the Article EXCOMMUNICATION.

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